Match safe



1,489,096 J. E. Nl -IAHR MATCH .SAFE

Fileti F 7. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 inventor Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

JACOB E. NEAHR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH SAFE.

Application filed February 7, 1919. Serial No. 275,504.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JACOB E. NEAHR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match Safes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined matchsafes and match-strikers, particularly those of the kind illustrated in my pending application No. 250,945, filed August 22, 1918 (now Patent No. 1,335,012, dated March 30, 1920). In said application, the matches stand in a safe, and a coil'of the igniting strip natches. The match-safe comprises a saucerlike base which serves as an ash-receiver.

A feature of the present invention isthe provision of a construction which can be used most of the time solely as a table or mantel ornament, but which can also be temporarily converted into a match-safe and striker when required, and which may further be utilized as a receptacle in which ashes and cigar ends may accumulate out of sight.

In carrying out the invention, I construct an ornamental wide-topped vase, jar, box, basket, cage or the like, of fine metal, glass, wood, fibre, or other materials. This vase, jar or the like is provided with an ornamental device serving as acover, which may preferably be of fine metal. This cover device, however, is convertible, so that it may be utilized as a match-safe, and preferably also as a match-striker, such-,for example, as disclosed in said application. lVhen said convertible device is used as an ornamental cover for the vase or the like, the matchsafe, striker, and ash-tray are inverted within the vase.

hen it is desired to convert the invention from an ornament into a match-safe and match-striker, the match-safe is overturned to an upright position, with its tray or base forming an inverted cover for the vase, and.

serving as an ash-receptacle. The vase may be adapted to serve also as an accumulator or receptacle forashes, etc., which may readily be dumped by lifting the tray and tipping the vase. may be removed from the vase-before it is re-converted to serve simply as an ornament,

by inverting the match-safe within the vase. The br1m of the vase may be flanged and formed with a shelf or a seat within which surrounds both the safe and the.

The accumulation of "ashes fits the base of the match-safe, affording a firm support to the safe at the match-striking operation. I

When it is desired to re-convert the structure to its reduced or simply ornamental form, the match-safe may be removed and the vase may be emptied of ashes, and then placed in inverted position over the matchsafe, which may be resting upon a table or in the hand of the user. Then the matchsafe and vase are kept together while the vase is turned over to its proper upright position. This exposes the bottom surface of the match-safe tray or base; this surface being preferably ornamented, and, if desired, consisting of finer metal than the re mainder of the match-safe.

7 It will be seen that during the converting and reconverting operations, the matches, although loose, are not permitted to fall out of the match-safe, since the vase itself serves as a temporary retainer or cover for the match-safe during the overturning of the latter. The hand holds the inverted tray to its seat in the vase, and the bottom of the latter is sufiiciently close to the inverted safe to prevent spilling the matches from the safe.

Thus, it will be seen that the objection to the use of unsightly matches and matchsafes in refined parlors, living rooms, etc., is overcome, and that a further advantage is gainedin that the structure may serve as. a desirable ornament. It will be understood that the structure may do service as a simple ornament all the time, except upon infrequent occasions when it is desirable to provide match-safes and match-strikers, and that it is then only necessary to invert the ornament while holding one, hand upon the cover, and then to lift off the inverted vase and place it right end up upon. the. table or .mantel, and then to place the match-safe therein in its upright position.

lVhile the invention is illustrated in connection with the match-safe and striker disclosed in said application, still it is obvious that it can be used inconnection with other match-safesand strikers; and that in some cases match-safes may be used without being provided with striking devices.

Other features and advantages inafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of will here top of the device to raise or lower the floor.

At Figure 12 is shown a novel mounting for the clip which holds the igniting strip, said mounting or bracket comprising a-pair of vertical inner plates 33, one upon each side of the egress opening 13", so that the strip can be led out between said plates. These plates are bent downwardly from a horizontal leaf 34, from the outer end of which depend ears 35, to which are pivoted at 36 the legs 14 of the clip, as at Figure 10. It will be seen at Figures 8 and 10 that the clearance between the top of the strip 10, and the head 37 formed upon the cap 23, is so slight as to be negligible; while the clip is, nevertheless, firmly supported because of the substantial width of the leaf 34.

The base 21 of the match-safe is hollowed or dished out to receive ashes, and may be formed with an exterior rolled rim 38, which, at Figure l, is seen as resting within the flange 39 of an ornamental vase, jar, basket, box, cage or the like, 40. Said flange surrounds a shelf 41 upon which the rim 38 rests. The rim is fitted somewhat'closely within the brim, so that the vase, which usually has considerable weight, may serve to give stability to the entire structure at the match-striking operation. The match-safe is a member permanently joined to the member 38.

lVhen it is no longer desired to use the matches, the safe is taken out and rested upon the table, or in the hand, and the vase 40 is inverted over the same to serve as a cover, as at Figure 5. Then, while the match-safe is held in this position relatively to the vase, the latter is returned to its original upright position, as at Figure 2, with the match-safe, match-striker and matches all inverted within the vase, the heads of the matches resting upon the floor 41 of the vase. The bottom surface 42 of the ash tray or base of the match-safe may be shaped or otherwise ornamented, as at Figure 3, so as to serve as an ornamental cover for the vase, which now may be used solely for ornamental purposes, without giving any intimation of its use as a match or ash receiver. The rim 38 in its inverted position, Figure 2, rests upon shelf 41, which is formed below the top edge or flange 39 of the vase, and preferably so that the cover lies flush with or a little below said top edge, as at Figure 2.

If desired, a separate disk 42 of finer metal may be placed over the bottom surface of a base, to he struck up or otherwise ornamented as at 42. Figure 3. This disk may be rolled at 43 within the rim 38, as seen in section at Figure 9.

The matches 44 at Figures 2 and 4 rest upon the floor or bottom of the vase, and it will be understood that the device may be successfully used even if the vase is higher in proportion to the match-safe than shown at these figures. For example, at Figure 6 the matches are shown as having fallen part way out of the safe, and as resting upon the floor of the vase. Thus the same match-safe is useful with vases of different heights, enabling customers .to be supp-lied from a smaller stock of match-safes and vases than would be the case if each safe were adapted only to one height of vase. The bottom of the inverted match-safe is indicated at 29, Figures 2 and 6.

At Figures 1, 2 and 5, the receptacle 40 is narrowed at its bottom sufficiently to safeguard the matches against dropping out of the match-safe 19 under some circumstances, as for example, if the inverted match-safe should be lifted a little, allowing the matches to fall part way out of the open top of the match-safe. This form of vase, with narrow bottom, is also suitable where the vase is made so high that the matches rest upon the floor of the vase and only extend partly into the match-safe, as at Figure 6. If desired, the floor of the vase may be provided with a ledge 45 to serve the same purpose, especially where the floor is extensive, as at Figure 4, and where the inverted matches are liable to be only partly confined by the safe 19, as at Figure 6. It will be seen at Figure 4 that the small central match-supporting floor 46 may be elevated above the outer or main floor portion 41 of the vase, these two floor portions being separated by ledge or brim 45. The main floor 41, at Figure 4, may serve as a receptacle for ashes, etc., the same being partitioned off by the ledge or brim 45 from the elevated match floor 46. It will be seen that owing to the arrangement of the matches within the match-striking coil. at Figures 2 and 9, the ase 40 may be made very compact when required, this being a desideratum in many instances.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom side up and again fit in said vase, and an open-top matclvsafe connected to said cover to be contained within the vase and brought to a position of use when said cover is reversed; said vase including provision for confining the matches against spilling when the match-safe is inverted.

2. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover forming an inverted ash tray having a rim and reversible so as to be re-inverted and again fit in said vase, and an inverted open-top match-safe connected to said tray to be contained within the vase and brought to a. position of use when said tray is reinverted, said match-safe. provided with a matchst-riking device, and the rim of said tray fitted to said vase in a manner to support the match-safe at the match-striking operation; said vase including provision for confining the matches against spilling when the match-safe is inverted.

3. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom side up and again fit in said vase, and an inverted open-top match-safe connected to said cover to be contained within the vase and brought to a position of use when said cover is reversed, said vase having a bottom at a distance from the match-safe to accommodate matches protruding from. the inverted safe, and to confine them within the safe.

4. An article 01 manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom side up and again fit in said vase, and an open-top matc-lrsaie connected to said cover to be contained within the vase and brought to a position of use when said cover is reversed, said match-sate provided with a match-striking device, and said cover fitted to said vase in a manner to operation, said vase having a bottom at a sufiicient distancefrom the match-safe toaccommodate matches protruding from the safe, but to keep them from spilling out of the safe.

, 5. An article oi manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom side up and. again fit in said vase, and an open-top match-sate connected to said cover to be contained within the vase and brought to a position of use when said cover is reversed, said match-safe provided with a match-striking device, and said cover fitted to said vase in a manner to support the match-sate at the match'striking operation, said vase having a bottom at a sufiicient distance -from the match-safe to accommodate matches protruding from the safe, but to keep; them from spilling out of the safe, said vase having a confining flange and an interior shelf or seat for said cover,

tom side up and again fit in said vase, and an open matclrsafe forming a member per inanently joined to said cover to be contained within the vase and brought to a position of use when said cover is reversed; said vase including provision for retaining the matches in the safe when overturned within the vase.

7. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase or the like, an ash-tray serving as an ornamental cover for said vase, and an open-top match-safe within the vase and connected to said ash-tray, said vase convertible into a. mantle ornament by holding the ash-tray and vase together while both are inverted, said vase having a floorportion to confine the matches in the matchsafe when it is overturi'ied in the vase, and said vase having means affording a seat to which the aslrtray is fitted, so that said vase may serve as a support for said match-sate.

8. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase or the like, an ash tray serving as a cover for said vase, an open-top match-safe within the vase and connected to said ash tray, said vase convertible as set forth byrholding the ash tray and vase together while both are inverted, means being provided to confine the matches in the match-safe when in overturned condition within the vase, said vase having a flanged brim to confine the ash tray against sidewise displacement at the match-striking operation, and a shelf to serve as a seat for the ash tray, and said match-safe having a match-stril-zing device thereon.

9. An article of manufacture comprising an opentop match-safe, a vase to contain the match-safe, said vase of a size to contain the match-safe and permit it to stand in overturned condition within the vase, said vase including means to prevent spilling matches from the overturned safe, said vase of a design to serve as an ornament when standing upright with the match-safe overturned therein, and an ash tray designed to serve as an ornamental cover for said vase, and permanently connected to the match-safe. V a

10. An article of manufacture comprising an open-top match-safe, a vase to contain thematch-safe, said vase of a size to contain the match-safe and permit it to stand in overturned condition within the vase,

and said tray provided with an ornamental sheet-metal facing device which is attached thereto and forms the exposed surface When the match-safe 1s overturned within the vase.

11 An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom side up and again fit in said vase, and an open-top match-safe connected to said cover to be contained in inverted position within the vase and brought to a normal position of use when said cover is reversed, said vase having a floor upon which the inverted matches rest, said floor being separated from the main floor of the vase by means of a ledge or brim.

12. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom Side up and again fit in said vase, and an open-top match-safe connected to said cover to be contained in inverted position within the vase and brought to a normal position of use when said cover is reversed, said vase having a central floor upon which the matches may rest, said central fioor having a rim and surrounded by the main floor of the vase, which may serve as a receptacle for ashes, said central floor being elevated above the main floor to confine the matches in the safe when inverted.

13. An article of manufacture comprising an ornamental vase, an ornamental cover fitted to said vase, said cover reversible so as to be turned bottom side up and again fit in said vase, and a match-safe permanently joined to said cover to be contained in inverted position within the vase and brought to a normal position of use when said cover is reversed, said match-safe being provided with windings of match-igniting material surrounding the match-receiving hollow of the safe.

14:- An article of manufacture comprising a convertible ornament in the form of a vase forming a receptacle for ashes, cigar ends and burned matches, and provided with an invertible ornamental cover, said cover having permanently joined thereto and pendent therefrom within said vase an inverted match-safe, said ornament being convertible into a combined ash receptacle and matchsat'e by removing said cover, and replacing it in inverted position upon said vase, said cover fitted to said vase in both positions of the cover.

15. An article of manufacture, comprising an ornament in the form of a vase forming a receptacle for ashes, cigar ends and burned matches, and provided with a cover, said cover having pendent therefrom within said vase a match-safe in overturned condi tion, said cover being invertible, and said ornament being convertible into a combined ash-tray, match-safe and base by removing said cover and replacing it in inverted position upon said vase; said cover formed to fit to said vase, to be held thereby against lateral displacement, in both normal and inverted positions.

16. An article of manufacture, comprising an ornament in the form of a vase forming a receptacle for ashes, cigar ends and burned matches, and surmounted by a cover, said cover having permanently joined thereto and pendent therefrom within said vase a match-safe in overturned condition, said ornament being convertible into a combined ash-receptacle, ash-tray and match-safe by removing the cover and safe, inverting them and replacing them upon said vase.

17. An article of manufacture, comprising a convertible ornament in the form of a vase forming a receptacle for ashes, cigar ends and burned matches, and surmounted by an inverted ash tray forming an ornamental cover, said cover having pendent therefrom within said vase an inverted match-safe, said ornament being convertible into a combined ash receptacle, ash tray and matclrsafe by removing the inverted ash tray and safe, reinverting them and replao ing them upon said vase, said vase including provision for confining the matches against spilling when the match-safe is inverted.

18. An article of manufacture, comprising a convertible ornament in the form of a vase forming a receptacle for ashes, cigar ends and burned matches, and surmounted by an inverted ash tray forming an ornamental cover, Said cover having pendent therefrom within said vase an inverted open-top match-safe, said ornament being convertible into a combined ash receptacle, ash tray and match-safe by removing the inverted ash tray and safe, reinverting them and replacing them upon said vase, said vase including a fioor portion located close to the inverted match-safe to confine the matches therein.

19. An article of manufacture, comprising an ornament in the form of a vase forming a receptacle for ashes, cigar ends and burned matches, and surmounted by a cover, said cover having pendent therefrom within said vase a match-safe in overturned condition, said ornament being convertible into a combined ash-receptacle, ash-tray and matchsafe by removing the ash-tray and safe, inverting them and replacing them upon said vase, said vase having a flanged brim to confine said tray, and also having an interior shelf to serve as a seat for said tray.

' JACOB E. NEAHR.

Witnesses CA'rHEmNn A. N EWELL, EDITH B. LIBBY. 

